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Supporting students, teachers and our future in the 2024 elections.
YOUR VOTE MATTERS. VOTE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.
Education is a key issue for elections this fall.
Schools today are not the same as when we were kids. They’re not even the same as they were a decade ago. Nearly 10 years of provincial budget cuts have led to ballooning class sizes and eroding access to the services that students rely on to support their learning and growth.
In 2022, Praxis Consulting released an analysis of public education spending and found that every dollar invested in kindergarten to Grade 12 education generates more than four dollars in economic activity in Saskatchewan. Public education spending is not only an investment in the students of today, but also a vital investment in the economy and vitality of our province’s future.
The outcome of the fall elections will have a major impact on the future of Saskatchewan’s publicly funded schools.
Publicly funded education must be a priority for all candidates and parties. Saskatchewan deserves candidates to focus on what our students and teachers desperately need. Students and teachers need candidates who are ready to help deliver what students, families, teachers and the future of this province deserve.
Provincial Election – October 28
The MLAs and party we elect directly impact student experience and quality of education. Education is the responsibility of the provincial government and is the only funder of public education. Political, policy and budgetary decisions all directly impact what kind of education Saskatchewan kids receive.
Board of Education Trustee Elections – November 13
Board of education trustees are responsible for spending the provincial budget allocated for schools, as well as representing and advocating for the unique local interests of students in their communities.
An unfortunate reality is that 59 percent of school board trustee positions were acclaimed in the last election, meaning that only one person stepped forward for those positions and no election was held.
Your vote matters. Make sure you have a plan to vote. Find more at Elections Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan teachers are looking for three key commitments from this fall’s candidates:
RESTORE AND MAINTAIN PER-STUDENT FUNDING
Implement a fully funded plan with measurable targets to restore per-student funding to 2015-16 levels and commit to maintain funding levels as enrolment and inflation change.
Why it matters:
- As a result of nearly a decade of budget cuts and funding not keeping pace with enrolment and increasing costs, Saskatchewan’s students are falling behind.
- There are fewer resources to meet a growing student population and diverse needs, which means fewer and fewer students get the support they need.
- As of the 2024-25 provincial budget, Saskatchewan students are among the lowest in the country for per-student funding.
- According to Statistics Canada, when adjusted for inflation, Saskatchewan’s per-student funding in 2015-16 was $16,235. By 2021-22 it had dropped to $12,873. STF’s estimates based on Budget Day funding put 2024-25 per-student funding down further to $11,474.
Saskatchewan’s publicly funded schools experienced a growth of 15,785 students between 2016-17 and 2023-24 – representing an 8 percent increase. Over that same period, classroom teachers increased by only 10, or 0.1 percent.
ADDRESS CLASS SIZE AND COMPLEXITY
By 2028, restore ratios of students, teachers and other professionals to 2016-17 levels. Set and report on targets to reduce wait times for professional support and specialists.
Why it matters:
- While class size does not cause class complexity, large classes exacerbate the challenges.
- From 2016-17 to 2023-24 there were 15,000 more students but only 10 more FTE teachers.
- There are fewer teachers and fewer supporting professionals providing service to a greater number of students with more complex needs. Learning conditions are severely impacted for all students in an overcrowded classroom with a variety of student needs.
- According to a recent report from the provincial auditor, the American School Counselor Association recommends a ratio of no more than 250 students to one counselor. Every school division in the province fails to meet this ratio.
- The total number of students that require intensive supports has increased significantly, from 6,742 in 2007-08 to 10,442 in 2023-24, a growth of 54.9 percent. Among them, the number of students needing frequent intensive support surged by 105 percent, from 3,703 students to 7,591, during the same period; however, the number of specialists (such as psychologists and speech language pathologists) has decreased by 18.3 percent since 2013-14.
- In the 2023-24 school year, there was:
- 1 social worker per 2,476 students
- 1 psychologist per 2,995 students
- 1 speech language pathologist per
1,367 students - 1 counsellor per 697 students
The number of English as an additional language (EAL) students increased from 12,775 in 2013-14 to 21,794 in 2023-24, representing an increase of 70.5 percent or 9,019 more students, while the number of EAL teachers decreased by 3.4 percent during the same period.
ADDRESS THE GROWING CONCERNS OF CLASSROOM VIOLENCE
Ensure students have the support they need to participate in class. Develop and implement reporting mechanisms and set measurable targets to address the issue.
Why it matters:
- Violence and harassment are often the result of students not having the professional support they need to participate successfully in class.
- These instances impact all students – they witness the incidents, have to clear the room and often see the aftermath.
- 64 percent of survey respondents reported that the incidents of violence have increased over the last five years.
In a survey of Saskatchewan teachers last year, 35 percent of respondents reported that they have experienced violence in their working environment in the last five years. This is up from 29 percent in 2021, and 93 percent of these say the incidents were physical.
CONCLUSION
The need for proper funding and support to meet the needs of students has been identified as a priority for Saskatchewan voters, but the issue will only be addressed if we do our homework, make the effort to vote and choose elected representatives who are committed to public education.
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Learn about the issues and challenges facing education. |
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Review candidates’ platforms and campaign promises. |
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Ask informed questions of MLA and trustee candidates who come to your door and attend public forums. |
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Make sure you make a plan to vote. |
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Learn where your poll will be located on election day or during advance voting. |
Voters have an opportunity to elect candidates who are committed to providing adequate funding for schools, addressing classroom size, complexity and violence, and are willing to work collaboratively with teachers to achieve these goals. Saskatchewan’s students deserve a properly resourced education system that helps them learn, grow and thrive.
